Arrangements of decorative elements, lighting fixtures, and methods for providing illumination

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of decorative elements includes a frame, a plurality of strands of ornaments supported from the frame, a plurality of slats supported from the frame, and wherein the plurality of slats are interspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to define a row of strands of ornaments and slats. The frame may include an inner support for supporting the plurality of strands of ornaments and slats, and an outer support that extends around a peripheral edge of the inner support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to commonly assigned, co-pending patentapplication Ser. No. ______, concurrently filed herewith, by SaewooPark, and entitled “Light Fixture Trim” (atty. dock. no. 2350.3005), andcommonly assigned, co-pending patent application Ser. No. ______,concurrently filed herewith, by Saewoo Park, and entitled “Light FixtureArm” (atty. dock. no. 2350.3006), which applications are herebyincorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present disclosure relates generally to arrangements of decorativeelements, lighting fixtures, and methods for providing illumination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pendant lights are lighting devices that hang from a ceiling. Typically,a pendant light is supported from a ceiling mount by a cord, chain, orpipe, an upper end of which is attached to the ceiling mount, and alower end of which is attached to the lighting device. Often thelighting device includes shade and a light such as a light bulb. Theshade is often in the form of a bulbous glass shade, a cylindrical drumshade, or a conical shade.

Chandeliers are branched, decorative ceiling-mounted light fixtures.Typically, chandeliers are ornate, and include a number of lamps andcomplex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room withrefracted light.

There is a need for further arrangement of decorative elements, lightingfixtures, and methods for providing illumination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an arrangement ofdecorative elements. The arrangement includes a frame, a plurality ofstrands of ornaments supported from the frame, a plurality of slatssupported from the frame, and wherein the plurality of slats isinterspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to define a rowof strands of ornaments and slats supported from the frame.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a lighting fixturewhich includes the arrangement of decorative elements as noted above,and at least one of a lighting device and a receptacle for receiving alighting device disposed adjacent to the row of strands of ornaments andslats.

In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a frame forsupporting an arrangement of decorative elements. The frame includes aninner support operably connectable to the arrangement of decorativeelements, an outer support, and a bracket for supporting the outersupport around an outer peripheral edge of the inner support.

In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a lighting fixturehaving the frame as noted above comprising the inner support and theouter support, a plurality of decorative elements suspended from theinner support, and at least one of a lighting device and a receptaclefor receiving a lighting device disposed adjacent to decorativeelements.

In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method forproviding illumination. The method includes providing a plurality ofslats interspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to definea row of strands and slats, and emitting light onto one side of the rowof strands and slats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the disclosure is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thespecification. The disclosure, however, may best be understood byreference to the following detailed description of various embodimentsand the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lighting fixture inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the lighting fixturearms and arrangement of decorative elements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a frame forsupporting the arrangement of decorative elements of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the frame, in part cross-section,of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the arrangement of decorativeelements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the plurality of standsof ornaments of the arrangement of decorative elements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper end portion of thestrand of ornaments of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the plurality of slatsof the arrangement of decorative elements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the top end portion of theslat of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the inner support ofFIG. 3 supporting upper ends of the strands of ornaments and slats;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of a portion of inner support of FIG. 11illustrating an aperture for supporting a strand of ornaments;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a lightingfixture arm and shade in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing illuminationin accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a lighting fixture 10 in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure. For example, lighting fixture 10may be suspended and supported below a ceiling. In this illustratedembodiment, lighting fixture 10 generally comprises a ceiling mount 12,an elongated member 16, arm support 20, a plurality of arms 30, and aplurality of arrangements of decorative elements, which as shown in FIG.1, may define a plurality of shades 50. An upper end portion 17 ofelongated member 16 is operably attachable to ceiling mount 12 and alower end portion 18 of elongated member 16 is operably attachable toarm support 20.

Upper end portions 32 of arms 30 are operably attachable to arm support20. For example, the upper end portions of the arms may be attached tothe arm support so that the arms are spaced apart and extend radiallyoutwardly from the arm support. Lower end portions 34 of each of arms 30may be operably attached to respective ones of shades 50. Lower endportions 34 of arms 30 may operably attached to and support a lightsource such as a light bulb or other illuminable device, or receptaclefor receiving a light source such as a light bulb or other illuminabledevice disposed in shade 50. The lighting fixture may be operablyconnected to an electrical supply, for example, via an electrical cablerunning through the elongated member and into each of the arms. Forexample, the elongated member and the arms may be hollow. Alternatively,the lighting fixture may be suspended from an electrical cable or fromone or more support wires.

With reference to FIG. 2, shade 50 may include a frame 55 operable forsupporting or hanging a plurality of strands of ornaments 120, and aplurality of slats 150. The plurality of strands of ornaments may beinterspersed with the plurality of slats to define a row of strands ofornaments and slats. The row of strands of ornaments and slats mayextend around at least a portion of a light source such as a light bulbor other illuminable device. In one embodiment, the upper portion of thearm may be formed from wood, and arm support 20 (FIG. 1) and a lowerportion of the arm may be formed from a metal or have reflective ormirrored surface.

As shown in FIG. 3, frame 55 may include a bracket 60, inner supports80, and an outer support 100. Bracket 60 may include a base 62 and sideportions 64. Base 62 may include an aperture 61 for receiving and beingoperable attachable to a receptacle 52 which receptacle is operableattachable to a bulb 54 or other lighting device. For example, as bestshown in FIG. 4, side portions 64 may include a lower portion 65 thatattaches to base 62, and an upper portion 66. Upper portion 66 mayoperably attached to inner supports 80 (FIG. 3), and outer support 100(FIG. 3).

With reference still to FIG. 4, upper portion 66 of side portion 64 maycomprise an edge defining a plurality of rest or stops and posts forsupporting inner supports 80 (FIG. 3) and outer support 100 (FIG. 3).For example, upper portion 66 may define an edge or stops 68 and post 70for supporting outer support 100, and upper portion 66 may define edgesor stops 69 and posts 74 for supporting inner supports 80. Post 70 mayinclude a lower portion 71 and an upper twistable portion 72. Posts 74may include a lower portion 75 and an upper twistable portion 76. Stop68 may be disposed lower than stops 69.

With reference again to FIG. 3, inner supports 80 may have a thicknessT1, and outer support 100 may have a thickness T2. Thickness T2 may begreater than thickness T1. Outer support 100 may include first andsecond apertures 102, in each of which is receivable over one of posts70 (FIG. 4) of bracket 60 (FIG. 4). Inner supports 80 may include firstand second apertures 82, each of which receive one of posts 74 (FIG. 4)of bracket 60 (FIG. 4).

The configuration and positioning of the inner and outer supportsrelative to each other and the positioning of the stops on the bracketallows a peripheral edge 85 of inner supports 80 to be generallyobscured by a peripheral edge 105 of outer support 100. Peripheral edges85 of inner supports 80 may be obscured from view by an observer byperipheral edge 105 when viewing shade 50 from below. For example, asshown in FIG. 2, whereas inner support has a non-uniform outerperipheral edge, frame 50 may be observed from below as having a smoothouter peripheral edge 105.

With reference again to FIG. 3, the inner and outer supports may beplanar, and when inner supports 80 and outer support 100 are connectedto bracket 60, inner supports 80 may be nested inside outer support 100.As shown in FIG. 5, upper and lower surfaces of inner support 80 may beeven with or disposed between upper and lower surfaces of outer support100. Inner supports 80 and outer support 100 may be securely attached toside portions 64 by twisting twistable portions 71 and 73.

With reference again to FIG. 3, base 62 may be opaque or have an opaqueor mirrored surface and extend between the plurality of strands ofornaments and plurality of slats generally across the bottom of theshade so as to inhibit emission of light downwardly directly from thelight source. In other embodiments of the shade, the inner and outersupport may be supported from above by an arm of the light fixture.

As shown in FIG. 6, strands of ornaments 120 and slats 150 may comprisealternating strands of ornaments and slats. In one embodiment, theplurality of strands of ornaments may comprise a plurality of elongatedstrands of translucent crystal ornaments. The plurality of slats maycomprise a plurality of elongated slats. The slats may be opaque and/orhave at least an outer mirrored surface 152. The ornaments may be of anyavailable size. In one example, the crystal ornaments may be generallycube-shaped faceted crystals having a height of about ⅜ inch, a width ofabout ⅜ inch, and a depth of about ⅜ inch. The slats may have a lengthof about 3¼ inch, a width of about ¼ inch, and a depth of about 1/16inch. In this illustrated embodiment, light may be emitted from shade 50upwardly through opening 109 in outer support 100, and opening 89disposed between inner supports 80, as well as through the crystalornaments. The width of overall shade may be about 3⅜ inches and lengthof overall shade may be about 7¾ inches. It will be appreciated that thedimensions of the shade, elements, ornaments, and slats may be anysuitable size. In addition, the lighting fixture may be configured as apendent having a single row of decorative elements surrounding one ormore light sources. The row may be a generally circular row, a generallyoval row, a row disposed in a generally square configuration, a rowdisposed in a generally rectangular configuration, or a row formed inany suitable configurations, and combinations thereof.

With reference still to FIG. 6, the arrangement of decorative elementsmay be arranged so that edge portions of some of the plurality ofstrands 120 of ornaments define a first profile P1, and edge portions ofsome of the plurality of slats 150 define a second profile P2. Ahorizontal distance D between the first profile and the second profilemay be generally constant along a length of at least one of the strandof ornaments and the slats. In additional, the spacing between thestrands of ornaments and slats may be generally constant between each ofthe strands of ornaments and slats. The arrangement of decorativeelements may have other edge profiles. For example, the ornaments mayhave different sizes defining a profile along the length of the strandof ornaments and the slats may have different widths along its length todefine a generally matingly corresponding constant spaced-apart profile.For example, the profiles of the strands of ornaments and the slats maybe curved. In addition, the profiles may be matching or correspondingand non-matching or corresponding profiles.

With reference to FIG. 7, strands of ornaments 120 may include aplurality of ornaments 122 supported and/or connected by a string orwire 124. The upper end of the string ort wire is attached to aconnector 125. As shown in FIG. 8, connector 125 may include a bodyportion 126 and an outwardly extending ridge 127. Connector 125 maydefine a cavity 123 therein. Along the length of the side of connector125 may be a cutout 123 allowing the upper portion of the wire 124 topass therethrough and allow a ball or clamp 129 to rest on the bottom ofconnector 125.

With reference to FIG. 9, slat 150 may include an elongated member 151having a lower end 154 and an upper end 156. As best shown in FIG. 10,upper end 156 of slat 150 may include an aperture 158 for receiving awire hook or clip 160 having an upper inverted U-shaped portion 165 andan S-shaped lower portion 167.

As shown in FIG. 11, inner support 80 may include a plurality ofapertures 90 for receiving a leg 169 (FIG. 10) of the upper invertedU-shaped portion of clip 160 of slat 150. A leg 170 (FIG. 10) may bedisposed in a cutout 92 disposed along the peripheral edge of innersupport 80. Inner support 80 may also include a plurality of apertures95 for receiving and supporting connector 125 of strand 120. As shown inFIG. 12, aperture 95 may define a passageway sized to receive body 126(FIG. 8) of connector 125 (FIG. 8) with the upper surface 97 of innersupport 80 supporting a bottom surface of ridge 127 (FIG. 8) ofconnector 125 (FIG. 8). The outer peripheral edge of support 80 may havea gap or passageway 91 extending through the thickness to aperture 95 sothat wire 124 may pass through gap 91 to position connector 125 inaperture 95. It will be appreciated that the inner support may have arecess or cutout around aperture 95 to that the ridge of the connectormay be at least partially recessed in the inner support.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a lightingfixture arm 230 and shade 250 in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. In this illustrated embodiment, an arrangement of decorativeelements such as a shade 250 may comprise a plurality of strands ofornaments 220 and a plurality of slats 250. The plurality of strands mayinclude first ornaments 221 and second ornaments 223 which are differentfrom first ornaments 221 to define a pattern of different ornaments. Forexample, the first ornaments may include clear transparent ornamentssuch as clear transparent crystals, and the second ornaments may includetransparent colored crystals or opaque ornaments. The slats may beopaque slats or slats having a mirrored outer surface and/or an innermirrored surface.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a method 300 for providingillumination in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Themethod generally includes, at 310, providing a plurality of slatsinterspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to define a rowof strands and slats, and a 320, emitting light onto one side of the rowof strands and slats. For example, the ornaments may be translucentcrystal ornaments, the slats may be opaque and/or have an outerreflective or mirrored surface. The row of strands and slats extendsgenerally around the emitted light. The row may comprise alternatingstrands of ornaments and slats.

In the above embodiments of the lighting fixture, light may be emittedoutwardly from the arrangement of decorative elements and upwardlybetween the arrangement of decorative elements as shown by the arrows inFIG. 2. In addition, light may be blocked from emission downwardlybetween the arrangement of the decorative elements by the base of thebracket. The elements, ornaments, or slats may refract, emit, and/orreflect light. The elements, ornaments, or slats may comprise a plastic,stone, metal, or glass material. The opaque, translucent, or transparentelements, ornaments, or slats may comprise a tint or color, for example,blue or red, but may typically be substantially clear. The elements,ornaments, or slats may be solid, hollow, or have passagewaystherethrough, and combinations thereof. The elements, ornaments, orslats may be of any suitable size. The elements, ornaments, or slats maybe a monolithic structure or comprise a one-piece construction, orformed from several separate pieces. The elements, ornaments, or slatsmay be double-pointed, tetrahedrons, polyhedrons, or have other facetedconfigurations. The elements, ornaments, or slats may be observable toobservers when the lighting fixture is viewed from below or from belowand to the side. The light source may be or may not be observable toobservers when the lighting fixture is viewed from below or from belowand to the side.

The light source may be an LED or light emitting diode light source,incandescent, florescent, or other suitable light sources, andcombinations thereof.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-describedembodiments and/or aspects thereof may be used in combination with eachother. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the various embodimentswithout departing from their scope.

While the dimensions and types of materials described herein areintended to define the parameters of the various embodiments, they areby no means limiting and are merely exemplary. Many other embodimentswill be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription. The scope of the various embodiments should, therefore, bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used asthe plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and“wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,”“second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are notintended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, thelimitations of the following claims are not written inmeans-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted basedon 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claimlimitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statementof function void of further structure.

It is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects oradvantages described above may be achieved in accordance with anyparticular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art willrecognize that the systems and techniques described herein may beembodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes oneadvantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarilyachieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggestedherein.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosuremay include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, andalso to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention,including making and using any devices or systems and performing anyincorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is definedby the claims, and may include other examples that occur to thoseskilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within thescope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differfrom the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalentstructural elements with insubstantial differences from the literallanguage of the claims.

1. An arrangement of decorative elements, said arrangement comprising: aframe; a plurality of strands of ornaments supported from said frame; aplurality of slats supported from said frame; and wherein said pluralityof slats is interspersed with said plurality of strands of ornaments todefine a row of strands of ornaments and slats supported from saidframe.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises aninner support and an outer support, said inner support operable forsupporting said plurality of strands of ornaments and slats, and saidouter support extending around an outer peripheral edge of said innersupport.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said frame comprises abracket for supporting said inner support and an outer support.
 4. Thearrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality of slats being interspersebetween said plurality of strands of ornaments comprises alternatingstrands of elements and slats defining said row of strands of ornamentsand slats.
 5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality ofornaments and said plurality of slats comprises generally the samevertical length.
 6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality ofstrands of ornaments comprises a plurality of strands of crystalornaments.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality of slatscomprises a plurality of slats having an outer mirrored surface.
 8. Thearrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality of strands of ornamentscomprises a plurality of strands of crystal ornaments, and saidplurality of slats comprises a plurality of slats having an outermirrored surface.
 9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein edge portions ofsome of said plurality of strands of ornaments define a first profile,edge portions of some of said plurality of slats define a secondprofile, and when a first of said strand of ornaments is disposedadjacent to a first of said slats, a horizontal distance between saidfirst profile to said second profile is generally constant along avertical length of at least one of said ornaments and said slats. 10.The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said first profile and said secondprofile define straight lines.
 11. The arrangement of claim 9 whereinsaid first profile and said second profile define vertical straightlines.
 12. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises aninner support and an outer support, said inner support operable forsupporting said plurality of strands of ornaments and said plurality ofslats, and said outer support extending around a peripheral edge of saidinner support, and wherein said frame comprises a bracket for supportingsaid inner support and an outer support, and said bracket is operablefor supporting a receptacle for receiving a lighting device.
 13. Thearrangement of claim 1 wherein said row of strands of ornaments andslats comprises a curved row of strands of ornaments and slats.
 14. Alighting fixture comprising: said arrangement of claim 1; at least oneof a lighting device and a receptacle for receiving a lighting devicedisposed adjacent to said row of strands of ornaments and slats.
 15. Thelighting fixture of claim 14 wherein said row of strands of ornamentsand slats extends generally around said at least one of said lightingdevice and said receptacle for receiving a lighting device.
 16. Alighting fixture comprising: a plurality of said arrangements of claim1; a plurality of at least one of lighting devices and receptacles forreceiving lighting devices each of which is disposed adjacent to adifferent one of said row of strands of ornaments and slats.
 17. Thelighting fixture of claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of saidarrangements extends generally around a different one of said pluralityof said at least one of lighting devices and said receptacles forlighting devices.
 18. A frame for supporting an arrangement ofdecorative elements, said frame comprising: an inner support operablyconnectable to the arrangement of decorative elements; an outer support;and a bracket for supporting said outer support around an outerperipheral edge of said inner support.
 19. The frame of claim 18 whereinsaid inner support is operable for supporting the arrangement ofdecorative elements in a row.
 20. The frame of claim 18 wherein saidinner support comprise a plurality of apertures operably attachable tothe arrangement of elements comprising at least one of upper ends of aplurality of strands of ornaments and upper ends of a plurality ofslats.
 21. The frame of claim 18 wherein outer support comprises asmooth outer peripheral edge.
 22. The frame of claim 18 wherein saidinner support comprises a plurality of inner supports, and said outersupport comprises a plurality of openings each of which for receiving adifferent one of said plurality of inner supports.
 23. The frame ofclaim 18 wherein said bracket is operable for supporting said receptaclefor receiving the lighting device.
 24. The frame of claim 18 whereinsaid bracket comprise a plurality of posts operably insertable inopenings in said inner support and said outer support.
 25. The frame ofclaim 24 wherein said plurality of posts comprises a twistable portionfor releasably attaching said inner support and said outer support tosaid bracket.
 26. The frame of claim 18 wherein said inner supportcomprise a generally planar support, and said outer support comprise agenerally planar support.
 27. The frame of claim 26 wherein said innersupport comprise a first thickness, and said outer support comprise asecond thickness greater than said first thickness.
 28. The frame ofclaim 27 wherein said bracket is operable for supporting upper and lowersurfaces of said inner support disposed between a lower surface of saidouter support and an upper surface of said outer support.
 29. The frameof claim 28 wherein said bracket comprise a plurality of posts foroperably insertable in openings in said inner support and said outersupport.
 30. The frame of claim 29 wherein said plurality of postscomprises a twistable portion for releasably attaching said innersupport and said outer support to said bracket.
 31. The frame of claim18 further comprising the decorative elements comprising a plurality ofstrand of ornaments and a plurality of slats.
 32. A lighting fixturecomprising: said frame of claim 18 comprising said inner support andsaid outer support; a plurality of decorative elements suspended fromsaid inner support; and at least one of a lighting device and areceptacle for receiving a lighting device disposed adjacent todecorative elements.
 33. The lighting fixture of claim 32 wherein saidplurality of decorative elements defines a row of decorative elements.34. The lighting fixture of claim 33 wherein said plurality ofdecorative elements comprises at least one of a plurality of stands ofornaments and a plurality of slats.
 35. A method for providingillumination, the method comprising: providing a plurality of slatsinterspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to define a rowof strands and slats; and emitting light onto one side of the row ofstrands and slats.
 36. The method of claim 32 wherein the row of strandsof ornaments and slats extends generally around the emitted light. 37.The method of claim 33 wherein plurality of strands of elements comprisea plurality of translucent crystal ornaments.
 38. The method of claim 34wherein plurality of slats comprises at least an outer mirrored surface.